audio latency using Live with real instruments

I use Live as a combination of mixer and plug-in host for several real instruments and my vocals, as well as playing loops, samples and backings, and also to run video in from time to time.

I have noticed that as my set has expanded in complexity, the audio latency has got worse, to the point where I now feel like I'm playing out of time in fast bits.

Will this improve if I upgrade my RAM? I'm currently running a 2-year-old MacBook Pro 13 with 4G of RAM, using an MBox 2 Pro as sound card. I also run a Korg NanoKontrol to run the mixer and a Softstep to control effects and trigger loops etc.

The sounds are all working wonderfully. I use a mixture of plugins including Guitar Rig, Waves GT Stomp, NI B4fx and some of the built-in Ableton ones.

1 answer

gdomusic

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28 answers 61 votes received

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Your plugins are killing it, man. Turn each on individually, one at time, and see what each one is costing you CPU-wise. Try an external preamp like a POD. You can snag one on eBay for about $100, give or take. I believe you can bump up your ram to 8gigs with a third party component for about $30. Check some mac forums and see whats decent.

I'd love to hear what you have going on. Any videos posted of live performances?

4 years ago|
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